Monday, June 4, 2018

2018 #NASCAR Next Class

2018 #NASCAR Next Class

The NASCAR Next program was created with the goal of establishing credibility and marketplace awareness, focusing on sculpting potential future stars of the sport. The drivers taking part in the initiative have proven they are capable of success on the race track, and this program gives them the opportunity to stand out among the competition when striving to gain attention of the industry, sponsors, media and fans.

The NASCAR Next selection process includes input from industry executives, the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Drivers Council and media members. Drivers must be between the ages of 15-25, aspire to compete in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and show potential – on and off the track – to realize that goal.

The nine-member 2018 NASCAR Next class includes five new drivers and four returning from last year. As the young drivers continue to turn heads on the race track, learn more about their lifestyles when the helmets come off.

Anthony Alfredo

Age: 18

Hometown: Ridgefield, Connecticut

Series: NASCAR K&N Pro Series East

Best career K&N East finish: Won second race of a Twin 100 at South Boston Speedway in Virginia.

"It's definitely a challenge balancing my full-time racing and being a full-time student (at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte). I've learned to prioritize and put my education first when it needs to be. I try to get ahead by getting my schoolwork done before the race weekend so I don't have to stress out about it." -- Anthony Alfredo

Favorite binge show: The Office

Favorite go-to meal: If there is leftover pizza in the fridge, that is go-to

Favorite video game: Call of Duty (Modern Warfare 2, Black Ops 2)

Hailie Deegan

Age: 16

Hometown: Temecula, California

Series: NASCAR K&N Pro Series West

Best career finish K&N West: Seventh-place finish at Kern County Raceway Park in 2018

Derek Kraus

"I look up to Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson a lot. Kyle Larson will race anything that he wants to. If someone asks him to race something, he'll go and do it. That's what I want to be like. I want to race everything." -- Derek Kraus

Favorite video game: iRacing

Most embarrassing racing moment: It was a 100-lap race and on the last lap coming out of Turn 2 I was running third or fourth and I spun out by myself.

Would be walk-up song: "HandClap" by Fitz and the Tantrum

Chase Purdy

Age: 18

Hometown: Meridian, Mississippi

Series: ARCA Racing Series

Best career finish in ARCA: A fifth-place finish at Salem Speedway in 2018

"My NASCAR idol I'd say is Jimmie Johnson. I mean the man has won basically everything you can win in NASCAR. He's got seven titles. I look up to that guy, and I admire who he is and what he has accomplished." -- Chase Purdy

Favorite binge show: Santa Clarita Diet

Favorite go-to meal: Cheeseburger and fries

Would be walk-up song: 'Walk it Like I Talk it" by Migos

Will Rodgers

Age: 23

Hometown: Murrieta, California

Series: NASCAR K&N Pro Series

Best career finish in K&N East: Race victories at Watkins Glen International and New Jersey Motorsports Park in 2017

Best career finish in K&N West: A pair of second-place results at Sonoma Raceway and Evergreen Speedway in 2017

"On taking similar path to seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson: "It is reassuring that somebody like Jimmie did it this way and now I might be able to, too. I align myself with Jimmie, not only because I spent a lot of time in Southern California where he did and he raced Motocross and things like that, but from a personality standpoint, he's very clean-cut, well-polished and he's a respected competitor. So, those are some of the similarities that I like to think about. I'm glad to kind of relate myself to somebody like that." -- Will Rodgers

Favorite binge show: Breaking Bad

Mexican food. Junk food would probably be ice cream.

Would be walk-up song: "Kashmir" by Led Zeppelin

Zane Smith

Age: 18

Hometown: Huntington Beach, California

Series: ARCA Racing Series

Best career finish in ARCA: First career victory at Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville in 2018, followed up by a victory at Talladega Superspeedway two races later

“There's a difference between being good, and being (Monster Energy NASCAR) Cup Series good. ... They don't really care who finishes top three, they care who won the race. I figured that out with time. You have to go into a race weekend with one choice -- wanting to win." -- Zane Smith

"When I was growing up, (my favorite NASCAR driver was Dale Jarrett. My go-kart was brown and had flames on it and had the 88. It might have been the most hideous go-kart out there, but that was my dude." -- Tanner Thorson

Favorite thing to do to relax: Drive (to a race track in particular)

Favorite go-to late-night meal: In California, it's In-N-Out (plain cheeseburger, ketchup and spread only with fries and a vanilla shake). Out here in NC, McDonald's or Taco Bell.

Favorite music/singers: I listen to a lot of country while I'm driving and then when I'm heading to the race track, I put some rap on. Diehard fan of Chris Stapleton. It's unreal how good he is. I listen to a lot of Khalid and Kayne West. I like old-school rap, too.

Ryan Vargas

Age: 17

Hometown: La Mirada, California

Series: NASCAR K&N Pro Series East

Best career finish in K&N East: A ninth-place run at Langley Speedway in 2018

“We were running part-time. This changes everything for my family and me. I just moved out to North Carolina (a California native). I dreamed as a kid moving to North Carolina. Now, I'm here and I get to race in a race car. I get to race in the K&N Pro Series.” -- Ryan Vargas

Favorite go-to meal: Chicken McNuggets

Favorite binge show: Friends

Most embarrassing race moment: Taking out a friend while racing for the lead at Kern Raceway